Board fence



Dec. 13, 1932. T. H. SYMINGTON BOARD FENCE Filed Jan. 17, 1931 Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS H. SYMINGTON', or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE Assien- MENTS, or ONE-HALF TO EDITH a. SYMINGTON AND ONE-HALF 'ro THOMAS E. SYMINGTON, BOTH or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND BOARD FENCE Application filed January 17,1931. Serial No. 509,516.

lbjplicity, durability and neatness, the invention being a simplification of what is disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 379,227 and 509,515 filed July 18th, 1929 and January 17th, 1931, respectively.

An important object of the invention is to provide a plank or board fence embodying the use of cylindrical wooden posts to Which the boards or planks are secured in a novel manner.

A very important feature of the invention is to provide a fence construction in which the ends of the component boards or planks are overlapped inspaced relation to avoid the accumulation of water which, as is Well known, has a serious deteriorating efi'ect upon wood.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a fence construction having novel means for positively maintaining the overlapping ends of the boards or planks in spacedrelation so thatthere will be an air space between them which will facilitate rapid drying off of any water which might otherwise collect and cause rotting.

A further object is to provide a novel method of effecting separation, the method involving, in one instance, the employment of removable means for the purpose.

An additional object is to provide a fence of this character which will be extremely simple and inexpensive to build, positive in action, attractive in appearance, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art. 7

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure lis a front elevation of a fragment of a fence constructed in accordance with my invention 1 and showing the simplest form thereof,

instance creosote.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, A

Figure 3 is a similar view showing a modification embodying one means for holding, the overlapping ends of the boards or planks separated,

Figure 4 isan elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a modification embodying a dif ferent means for maintaining the boards in spaced relation,

Figure 5 is a cross section therethrough taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the spacing members,

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View illustrating yet another method of effecting separation of the overlapping ends of the planks or boards.

Referringmore particularly to the drawing, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the simplest form of the invention in which Ihave brought out a cylindrical post 10 of suitable wood adapted to be embedded in the ground, the lower end ofthe post being impregnated with some suitable moisture resistant material, for Boards or planks 11 of suitable dimensions, depending upon the contemplated size of the fence and its purpose are securedto the post, the ends of the boards being overlapped as clearly indicated particularly in Figure 2. To effect securing, one

board has its end placed against the side of the post and secured thereto as by one or more nails 12. The next board of the same course is then placedagainst the first board with its end in overlapping relation to the end thereof and is secured by one or more nails 13 which pass therethrough, through the underlying board and into the post as very clearly shown in Figure 2.

In fence construction it is ofcourse desirable to prevent the accumulation of water between the adjacent elements. When a cylindrical post is used, as disclosed, it is apparent that there will be substantially only a line contact between it and the board or plank nailed thereto and this will afford but little opportunity for moisture to collect. However, in view of the fact that the boards or planks are flat it will be apparent that when they are nailed together as above de scribed in connection with Figures 1 and 2 there is a possibility that water will remain between them. To avoid this possibility I may resort to the expedient illustrated in Figure 3 wherein one board or plank 11 is secured to the post 10 by one or more nails 14 whichboard and is secured in place by one or more nails 16 which are also driven into thepost. The nail heads 15 will naturally operate to space the boards apar't'so that there will be no opportunity for water to collect, there being on the other hand a free circulation of air which will insure drying out after a rain or other atmospheric condition of a similar nature.

Naturally there is no limitation as to the employment of the nail heads as the spacing means and in Figures 4 and 5 I have shown exactly the same arrangement except for the employment of separate spacing members 17 which may be conveniently stamped out of sheet metal and which areformed simply as elongated body members'with right angularly extending terminal prongs 18. After the first board is applied and secured to the post by one or more nails 19, the spacing member 17 is placed against this board and the prongs 18 forced into penetrating engagement therewith, subsequentlyto which the overlapping ends of the next board is placed in position and secured by nails 20. Clearly the mem ber 17 will operate to space the boards apart to accomplish the same purposes described in connection with Figure 3.

I have also discove'redthat the boards may be spaced apart without resorting to the heads of the nailswhich secure the underlying board in place; and also without using the spaclng members 17, and 1n Ifigure 7 I have illustrated a further method for bringing this about. Referring to'this figure it will be seen. that the underlying board is secured to the post by one or more nails 21. The overlying board is then placed in position with one or more wedges 22 interposed between the overlapping endsof the two boards, after which other nails 23 are driven through theouter board and into the underlying one. After this is done the wedges are removed and they will naturally leave a space between the boards so that moisture cannot collect.

Regardless of which form of the invention ispreferred, it is readily apparent that in each and every instance I have disclosed an extraordinarily simple and inexpensive construction and one moreover which will be neat and attractive in appearance. In all those forms and modifications in which means is provided for spacing the boards apart it is clear that the material will be prevented from rotting and its life greatly pro longed as the various members will not be subjected to the decaying action of water accumulations. It is thought from the foregoing that the construction and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments'of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes'in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 7 v

1. In a fence construction, a post, a plurality of boards disposed thereagainst and projecting beyond one side thereof, securing members passing through said boards and into the post, other boards disposed against said first named boards with their ends in overlapping relation thereto, and other securing members passing through the first and second named boards and into the post.

2. In a fence construction, a post, a plurality of boards disposed thereagainst and pro jecting beyond one side thereof, securing members passing through said boards and into the post, other boardsdisposed against into the post, other boards disposed against.

saidfirst named boards with their ends in overlapping relation thereto, securing members passing through the first and second named boards and into the post, and means interposed between the first and second named boards for maintaining them in spaced relation.

4. In a fence construction, a post, a plurality of boards secured thereto and extending beyond one side thereof, other boards arranged opposite to and in alinement with said first named boards with their ends in overlapping relation to the ends of the former, means extending through the boards for iet said first named boards with their ends in a securing them to the post, and means for maintaining the first and second named boards in spaced relation.

5. In a fence construction, a post, boards projecting beyond one side thereof, means securing the boards to the post, other boards disposed opposite to and in alinement with the first named boards, means securing the second named boards to the first named boards and to the post, the second named boards having their ends overlapping the ends of the first named boards, and means other than said securing means for separating the first and second named boards.

6. In a fence construction, a post, boards projecting beyond one side thereof, means securing the boards to the post, other boards disposed opposite to and in alinement with the first named boards, means securing the second named boards to the first named boards and to the post, the second named boards having their ends overlapping the ends of the first named boards, and means other than said securing means for separating the first and second named boards, comprising spacers penetratingly engaging the first named boards and contacting the second named boards.

7. In a fence construction, a post, boards secured thereto and having their ends projecting beyond one side thereof, spacing members penetratingly engaged in the outer sides of said boards, other boards arranged with their ends in overlapping relation to the ends of the respective first named boards and contacting said spacing members, and means for securing the second named boards to the first named boards.

8. In a fence construction, a post, a plurality of boards disposed thereagainst with their ends projecting beyond one side thereof, nails passing through said boards and into the post and having heads projecting outwardly beyond the boards, other boards arranged opposite and in alinement with said first named boards with their ends overlapping the same and in contacting relation to said heads, and other nails passing through the second and first named boards and into the post.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS H. SYMINGTON. 

